‘Real Housewives’ star Wendy Osefo, husband charged with insurance fraud in Carroll

Todd Karpovich, Baltimore SunBaltimore Sun

“Real Housewives of the Potomac” star Wendy Osefo and her husband, Edward Osefo, were charged in Carroll County after allegedly lying about a burglary at their home to defraud insurance companies, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

The couple faces 16 charges, including seven felony counts, connected to what investigators describe as a scheme involving false and misleading information in an insurance fraud case.

Deputies said the charges stem from an April 7, 2024, report of a burglary at the Osefos’ residence in the 1900 block of Turnberry Court in Finksburg. The couple told responding officers that they returned from vacation to find their home broken into and said about 80 items, valued at more than $200,000, had been stolen.

The allegedly stolen items included luxury goods such as jewelry, designer clothing and high-end shoes, according to court documents. Investigators later determined that more than $20,000 worth of those items had been returned to stores by the homeowners after the date of the reported burglary. Detectives also found photographs of one of the Osefos wearing jewelry that had been listed as stolen.

Court filings describe inconsistencies at the supposed crime scene, noting that the reported entry point — a second-floor bathroom window overlooking a small roof 9 feet above the deck — showed no signs of disturbance.

“There were no ladders, the deck furniture was undisturbed, and no indication anyone had been on the deck,” court documents read. “The Osefos stated they did not touch anything prior to police arrival.”

A Carroll County grand jury indicted the couple Thursday on multiple fraud-related charges. Deputies executed a search warrant at their home and arrested both Edward Osefo, 41, and Wendy Osefo, 40.

According to charging documents, Edward Osefo gave recorded statements to two insurance companies and denied that any of the claimed items had been returned. He also allegedly failed to disclose that he was filing a separate claim with a third insurer, Travelers Insurance, while providing lists of stolen property to Homesite and Jewelers Mutual.

The Osefos do not have an attorney listed in online court records.

Both defendants were taken to Carroll County Central Booking and later released on $50,000 bond each, authorities said.

This article will be updated.

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